This original waistcoat is made of silk, wool, and cotton. Embroidered in the lining is "T.I. 97", which offers an approximate date range for the early era in which Thomas Jefferson wore it.
This waistcoat is one of Thomas Jefferson’s original personal clothing items. Of the many artifacts found in our collection, those directly tied to Thomas Jefferson are some of our most important and give our curators the ability to understand Jefferson’s world and the role he played in shaping our nation.
Made from fine red crepe silk, this garment started life as a refined piece of clothing suitable for a man of Jefferson’s prominent station. Typical of waistcoats of the late 18th century, it was sleeveless, with a longer torso that boasted a row of button closures up the front. Probably the work of a professional tailor, which Jefferson favored for his fitted garments. Later, the garment was heavily altered with the addition of wool sleeves, interior padding for warmth, and a shortened hemline, perhaps a nod to changing fashion in the early 19th century. This garment is one of the most intimate and evocative pieces of Jefferson’s clothing in our collection.
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